C/2019 N1 (ATLAS)
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Perihelion	30 Nov 2020	12.8	1.703 AU	2.415 AU	13h55m	-21°45'	34.9°	19.4°	277°
Nearest approach	7 Feb 2021	12.7	1.925 AU	1.921 AU	15h23m	-73°44'	75.4°	29.7°	274°
Today	5 Mar 2026	23.2	15.449 AU	16.270 AU	01h09m	-18°25'	33.1°	2.0°	108°

The interactive orbit chart above shows the comet's path through the solar system and its position at the given date. Green and blue lines are shown perpendicular to the ecliptic plane: Green if the path is above the ecliptic plane, blue if it is below. (Left-click and drag to rotate the view; Right-click and drag to move the view; Use scroll wheel to zoom in our out.)

Light curve

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations from COBS. This lightcurve is being recalculated every 6 hours based on the available COBS/MPC observations (currently 9.4 + 5 log[∆] + 6.6 log[r]). An additional green curve is displayed when an increase in apparent brightness is expected due to forward scattering of sunlight, which occurs when a dust-rich comet is located between the Earth and the Sun. (See Marcus 2007)

Charts

The all-sky chart below shows the path of the comet over the same period as the light curve. The comet's current position is marked yellow.

The following chart shows the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Orbital elements

The orbital elements of C/2019 N1 (ATLAS) are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 0.9981880
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 1.7027760
    i (Inclination)                 : 82.59180
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 13.48250
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 193.33980
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 15.23372
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : -13.22642
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2459183.91280
    P (Orbital period in years)     : 28807.06

    Epoch                           : 2026 Mar 04
    Reference                       : MPEC 2023-C45

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; Returning (a < 10000 AU); External (P > 200 years)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-03-04 00:00 UT   01 08 54.7   -18 29 24    16.251   15.440   34.1    2.1   106   23.2 
2026-03-05 00:00 UT   01 09 06.0   -18 27 03    16.263   15.446   33.4    2.0   107   23.2 
2026-03-05 13:48 UT   01 09 12.5   -18 25 42    16.270   15.449   33.1    2.0   108   23.2 
2026-03-06 00:00 UT   01 09 17.4   -18 24 42    16.276   15.452   32.8    2.0   108   23.2 
2026-03-07 00:00 UT   01 09 28.9   -18 22 22    16.288   15.457   32.2    2.0   110   23.2 
2026-03-08 00:00 UT   01 09 40.5   -18 20 03    16.300   15.463   31.5    1.9   111   23.2 
2026-03-09 00:00 UT   01 09 52.2   -18 17 45    16.312   15.469   30.9    1.9   113   23.2 
2026-03-10 00:00 UT   01 10 04.0   -18 15 28    16.323   15.475   30.3    1.9   114   23.2 
2026-03-11 00:00 UT   01 10 15.9   -18 13 12    16.334   15.481   29.8    1.8   115   23.2 
2026-03-12 00:00 UT   01 10 27.9   -18 10 56    16.346   15.487   29.2    1.8   117   23.2 
2026-03-13 00:00 UT   01 10 40.1   -18 08 42    16.356   15.492   28.7    1.8   119   23.2 
2026-03-14 00:00 UT   01 10 52.3   -18 06 28    16.367   15.498   28.2    1.7   120   23.2 
2026-03-15 00:00 UT   01 11 04.6   -18 04 16    16.377   15.504   27.7    1.7   122   23.2 

    Terminology:
            
    delta:  distance between comet and earth in AU
    radius: distance between comet and sun in AU
    magn:   magnitude (brightness) estimate    
    ra:     right ascension in hours (24h = 360deg)
    dec:    declination in degrees
    elong:  elongation in degrees (angle sun-earth-comet)    
    phase:  phase angle in degrees (angle sun-comet-earth)        
    AU:     Astronomical Unit (mean distance between earth and sun: 149597870.7 km      
    

Orbital elements usually provided by the MPC (Minor Planet Center).
Observations contributed by observers worldwide, via COBS (Comet Observation Database) or the MPC (Minor Planet Center)
Calculations by a modified version of AAPlus, a C# implementation of the AA+ project by PJ Naughter from the algorithms presented in the book "Astronomical Algorithms" by Jean Meeus.
NGC2000 dso catalog and star labels from VizieR as provided by the Strasbourg astronomical Data Center.
Tycho2 catalog from the ESO archive.